April 25, 2013

Bottle Cap Fish

Several weeks ago I sent home a "homework" sheet with my 3rd & 4th graders. The sheet explained that we'd be creating some bottle cap fish...and I was looking for the best design. To my surprise...over half of the students returned the sheets within the next few days. A bigger surprise was about 30 of them were AMAZING! To narrow them down...I looked at how easy it would be to "translate" the drawings into the bottle cap version. Then I looked for the most unique designs. I came with these three. I placed the drawing under my Ladybug...and traced them onto insulation foam using a sharpie. I then did a quick coat of acrylic paint so the students knew what colors to use. During class I called up a few tables at a time to work for a couple minutes putting caps onto the fish. The used craft/tacky glue(knowing it would not go outside). I love them!! The one girl really wants to take "her" fish home when I'm done with it. I told her I didn't know if I'd be "done" with it! ha ha

6 comments:

Nice! I have TONS of bottle caps left over from the Starry Night mural we did during YAM. Over the summer I work the extended day program during July at school for three hours a day and I think we're going to do some outside murals to put in the school yard. Love the fish!

Hi! I love this idea and have a few questions. I am teaching 16 kids (age 7-15) at an At Risk Kids program (subsidizing housing/meals etc.). I want to know: if foam board from crafts store would work (or another inexpensive substrate)? And would Elmers work for the glue? There isn't a supply budget at the center but they do have Emer's and would Tempered paint work, as they also have that?? IF I HAD to use insulation board from a home improvement store, could Elmer's and Tempered paint work on that too - thinking of either substrate to be no more than ~11" x 14" as they all live in apts. Thanks for the post and would appreciate with my questions!

Elmers will NOT work. It dries very hard/brittle & the caps will pop off!! Do not try it...trust me..I learned the hard way. Tacky/craft glue will work if you use an ample amount. The flat foam core board from Dollar Tree might work, but it may also bend/warp as you put the glue on it...and if you were to paint it...it will surely warp!! Insulation foam is about $15 for a 8 ft x 4ft sheet. Tempera paint will flake off. Foam board or insulation foam are both slick surfaces...and tempera needs a "tooth" to stick to. Sorry I can't give you cheaper way.